Adaptive cancellation system for implantable hearing instruments

Abstract

The invention is directed to an implanted microphone having reduced sensitivity to vibration. In this regard, the microphone differentiates between the desirable and undesirable vibration by utilizing at least one motion sensor to produce a motion signal when an implanted microphone is in motion. This motion signal is used to yield a microphone output signal that is less vibration sensitive. In a first arrangement, the motion signal may be processed with an output of the implantable microphone transducer to provide an audio signal that is less vibration-sensitive than the microphone output alone. Specifically, the motion signal may be scaled to match the motion component of the microphone output such that upon removal of the motion signal from the microphone output, the remaining signal is an acoustic signal.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 330,788, filed on Jan. 11, 2006, entitled “ACTIVE VIBRATION ATTENUATION FOR IMPLANTABLE MICROPHONE”, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,775,964, on Aug. 17, 2010, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 643,074, filed on Jan. 11, 2005, entitled “ACTIVE VIBRATION ATTENUATION FOR IMPLANTABLE MICROPHONE”, and to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 740,710, filed on Nov. 30, 2005, entitled “ACTIVE VIBRATION ATTENUATION FOR IMPLANTABLE MICROPHONE”.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to implanted hearing instruments, and more particularly, to the reduction of undesired signals from an output of an implanted microphone.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]In the class of hearing aid systems generally referred to as implantable hearing instruments, some or all of various hearing augmentation componentry is positioned subcutaneousl...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a method for reducing vibration-sensitive audio signals in a hearing device. The method involves using motion sensors to measure the movement of the device caused by external sources like bone vibration or acceleration. These motion signals are then used to create a system model that filters out the vibration-sensitive signals, resulting in a net output signal with reduced vibration sensitivity. The motion signals are processed with filters to match the frequency response of the device and remove the effects of mechanical feedback. This helps to create an audio signal that is less sensitive to noise and vibration. The system model can be generated using ratios of the motion and microphone signals or other methods. The use of a cancellation filter is recommended to remove the effects of mechanical feedback. Overall, this method improves the quality of the audio signal and reduces the impact of external factors on the hearing device.

Problems solved by technology

In order to achieve this goal, it is necessary to differentiate between desirable signals, caused by outside sound, of the skin moving relative to an inertial (non accelerating) microphone implant housing, and undesirable signals, caused by bone vibration, of an implant housing and skin being accelerated by motion of the underlying bone, which will result in the inertia of the overlying skin exerting a force on the microphone diaphragm.

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